Dugong Emergency Protection Project

To secure core dugong herds and habitat by mitigating threats in Mozambique

Projections indicate that the dugong faces extinction within the
next 40 years. Recent aerial surveys and population estimates indicate
that Mozambique's Bazaruto Archipelago National Park retains no more
than 200 dugongs; representing the last remaining viable population in
the western Indian Ocean. While the Bazaruto Archipelago National Park
is an interim refuge to these dugongs, it remains under-resourced and
therefore unable to provide adequate protection to this population.

Most incidents of dugong mortality have been linked to local
commercial gillnetting for shark fins – particularly in the more remote
areas of the archipelago. Dugongs are not intentionally targeted, but
become entangled as bycatch, and thus far, little to no bycatch
mitigation measures are implemented in Mozambique.

The Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT)
partnered with the Bazaruto Archipelago National Park and will apply a
strategic and integrated protection programme within and outside the national park in order to prevent dugong bycatch and habitat loss.

The project will implement several activities to reduce dugong
mortality. A key aspect will involve improving law enforcement carried
out by the park authorities by designing new strategies, policing
boundaries, establishing dugong sanctuaries and fundraising.

Project activities will also focus on reviewing the existing policies
on gillnetting, establishing and circulating new penalties as well as
procedures for releasing dugongs caught in nets and reporting mortality.
In order to ensure the sustainability of such efforts, some activities
will consist of finding alternative livelihood options, capacity
building and local education for these fishing communities.

The project's main objective is to secure core dugong herds and
habitat by mitigating major threats and strengthening existing
structures in collaboration with various institutions and government
authorities.

This involves assisting the Bazaruto Archipelago National Park
improve their law enforcement effectiveness through designing and
implementing a revised strategy and set of systems that will prevent dugong entanglement in gillnets and destruction of dugong habitat. The
project will also provide technical support to the national park by
improving communication and financial administration systems so that
conservation operations are enhanced. The dugongs will as a result
benefit from a reduction in destructive and unlawful fishing practices,
and through the creation of sanctuaries. Moreover, long-term
conservation approaches will create sustainable income sources for the park, and identify alternative livelihoods for fishing communities.

WAZA Conservation Project 12004 is implemented by the Endangered Wildlife Trust. Other stakeholders involved in the project include the Bazaruto Archipelago National Park, Forum Natureza em Perigo and Save our Species.